How can I ensure avoiding a teeth whitening disaster (a la Ross from Friends)?

-Becca in North Dakota

Becca,

Teeth whitening can be a smile brightening, pleasant experience. There are some questions you can ask before making an appointment so you don’t get the glow in the dark, blinding “Ross” look, or end up spending money getting no results at all.

First, you want to know how strong is the bleach that’s being used? The ADA recommends a 10% peroxide solution to be used in an in-home bleaching kit, and a 15-35% peroxide solution for in office bleaching such as Zoom whitening, or other chair side products. You also need to be aware of who’s administering the bleaching. Teeth bleaching should be done by a trained professional only. Certain med spas, and stands at the mall may want to be passed over when looking to have such a delicate procedure done, which is best handled by a trained dentist. Delivering a highly potent agent requires medical oversight, thus decreasing risks for over-bleaching which can cause gum irritation and tooth sensitivity. Also, a trained dentist can oversee the process making sure no other dental therapies are needed due to tooth discoloration (natural teeth vs. caps/porcelain veneers). If only Ross was more proactive when he decided to Zoom his teeth!

This post is sponsored by Houston cosmetic dentist Coleman Dental.